Published 1:00 pm, Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Water remains a major concern of Hale County residents, according to responses to the recent Issue Identification initiative sponsored by the Hale County AgriLife Extension Service.

Deana Sageser, county Extension agent-family and consumer sciences, said her office recently asked local residents to go online and fill out a short "needs assessment" form as a way to express opinions on critical issues facing the county over the next five years.

Once those assessments were complete, Sageser said, the organization's advisory committee, which is made up of area community leaders, organized the concerns and established priorities, based on pre-established criteria.

The initiative was similar to the Futures Forum that Extension hosted in 2004. As it turns out, many of the residents' concerns were similar.

•People in residential areas will reduce the use of water in their homes, businesses and landscapes.

•Multicultural participation in community activities and leadership will be encouraged.

•Agricultural users will reduce water usage through conservation practices.

•The elderly population will have more opportunities for community-driven activities and mentorship.

Sageser said in the current initiative, concerns were divided into four categories: Agriculture/Natural Resources, family and consumer sciences, 4-H and youth development, and community development. In each of those, the top three priorities were listed.

For the agriculture/natural resources category, the priorities were:

•Water conservation (everything from urban to production agriculture)

•Energy independence/wind energy

•Financial concerns.

For the family and consumer sciences category, the priorities were:

•Health issues (primarily obesity)

•Family issues (including drug and tobacco abuse, togetherness, etc.)

•Retirement issues such as elder health care and insurance.

In the 4-H and youth development category, the priorities were:

•General education

•Bullying and character education

•Vocational training.

For the community development category, the priorities were:

•Rural economic development

•Energy and water efficiency (especially for seniors related to energy assistance)

•Entrepreneurship.

Sageser said many of the issues that were brought up in the survey were not directly related to Extension programs. However, she continued, that doesn't mean the service cannot take a role in helping find a solution.

For example, she said, on the education-related issues, many of the concerns are under the control of local school districts. Still, Extension does have programs it takes into schools, especially through its 4-H program.

"We're always willing to collaborate with other organizations in the county," she said.